Thursday, 25 November 2010

Fashion police called in after textile student’s prized garment stolen from display

A SHOTTS textiles student hoping to make a name for herself in the fashion industry was dealt a massive blow when one of her prized designs was stolen while on display in southern Scotland.

Twenty-four-year-old Roisin McAtamney was left speechless when a curator at the Borders Textiles Towerhouse contacted her to tell her that one of her most expensive items – a knitted top – had been nicked from her final degree collection display.

The theft of the top, said to be worth about £500, has now sparked a police investigation into how it went missing.

Roisin, who recently graduated from Herriot-Watt University and is now studying for her master’s degree at the London College of Fashion, said: “Me and a select few of my classmates were asked by the curator at Borders Textiles Towerhouse if we would like to display a few of our garments from our final degree collection.

“I happily agreed and the garment exhibition opened at the beginning of October.

“I then received a distressing e-mail explaining how the hand-knitted top had been stolen. I used expensive yarn, put endless hours of work into it and it was one of the best-received pieces in my collection.

“I am devastated as I was planning on selling the design once the exhibition had finished and I could have started to make a name for myself in the fashion world as well as money.”

The curator told Roisin that this was the first-ever theft from a live exhibition at the museum.

Police are now looking into the theft and Roisin has offered a reward for the return of the cardigan.

Roisin added: “I am slightly flattered... but how could some one stoop so low?”

Appeal after £500 top stolen from museum

A FORMER fashion student from the Borders has revealed she has been left devastated after a handmade top she designed was stolen from an exhibition in Hawick.

Roisin McAtamney, who has just recently graduated from Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels with a BA Hons in Design for Textiles, had loaned the garment, which is valued at £500, to the Borders Textiles Towerhouse to display.

She explained she spent hours designing the top which was knitted using expensive yarn and had hoped to sell it to a company for reproduction to help launch a career in the fashion industry.

However, last week, she received a distressing email from the museum which revealed the hand knitted top had been stolen.

This week Roisin appealed to the public for help in locating her top and offered a reward for its safe return.

Anyone with information should contact their local police station - Galashiels: 01896 752222.

Thursday, 4 November 2010

ROISIN McAtamney graduated from Heriot-Watt University at Galashiels recently and is regarded as a rising star in the world of knitted textiles design.

The 24-year-old from Shotts is now studying for her master’s degree at the London College of Fashion after one of the prestigious establishment’s course directors spotted Roisin’s work at a design show in the English capital this autumn. She was so impressed she told the young designer she had to come to the college to study.

So it was all the more galling for Roisin this week, when she opened an email to find that one of her prized garments has become the only item ever stolen from Borders Textile Towerhouse in Hawick.

From her new base in London, Roisin told TheSouthern on Tuesday: “Me and a few of my classmates were asked by the curator at Borders Textile Towerhouse if we would like to display a few of our garments from our final degree collection.

“I happily agreed and the garment exhibition opened at the beginning of October. Today I received a distressing email explaining how one of my hand-knitted tops had been stolen.

“I used expensive yarn, put endless hours of work into it and it was one of the best-received pieces in my collection. I am devastated as I was planning on selling the design once the exhibition had finished and I could have started to make a name for myself in the fashion world – and some money. The curator of the museum has stated that nothing has ever been stolen from any exhibition they have ever done and that my classmates’ work was not touched.

“I don’t know if I should feel a little bit flattered by the fact the thief only took one thing and it was this garment of mine, but I am pretty gutted – how could someone stoop so low.”

Roisin reported the theft to the local police and says she is even willing to put up a reward for her garment’s safe return.

“I had received some really good feedback about the top that was stolen and was hoping to do more with it, including enter it for some competitions.

“Mind you, it will be difficult for anyone to wear the stolen top, though, because it is very distinctive and, hopefully, a few fingers will be pointed at anyone who tries wearing it. Maybe they will be shamed into returning it,” said Roisin, who has valued the missing garment at around £500.

Shona Sinclair is curator at the Borders Textile Towerhouse and said staff were shocked that something had been stolen.

“I was a textiles student myself, so I know how important work from a final student collection is to someone,” she told us. “The display involved was designed to have a catwalk feel and you can’t have that feeling if the exhibits are behind glass.”

Ms Sinclair said Roisin will receive compensation under the museum’s insurance scheme, but admitted it would not make up for the loss of a very individual and unique item.

“This was a theft from a new exhibition in a new museum and if it were to affect people’s confidence in exhibiting with us, that would be a real problem.”

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About Me

I Love to Knit!
Knitty Knitty Knit Knit!!!
Just graduated from Heriot-Watt's School of Textiles and Design with a BA Hons Design for Textiles (Knitwear).
Currently studying MA Digital Fashion @ London College of Fashion and working a few jobs on the side.